Spain serves up another surprise
The Spanish team produced another upset in the 2008 Fed Cup
by BNP Paribas World Group Semifinals, defeating China 4-1
in Beijing. Spain will host Russia in the final on September
13-14, after the defending champion scored a 3-2 victory over
USA in Moscow.
 Following
an away victory in Italy in the first round, Spain travelled
to Beijing with just one player with any notable Fed Cup experience
but two victories from Nuria Llagostera Vives, coupled with
a stunning singles debut by Carla Suarez-Navarro, saw the
five-time champion advance to its first Fed Cup Final since
2002.
Suarez-Navarro overcame a ranking gap of more than 60 places
with a 63 76 victory against Shuai Peng in the tie’s
opening rubber, before Llagostera Vives dominated Jie Zheng
63 64 in the second and then completed Spain’s triumph
with a 64 64 defeat of Peng.
“I’m feeling unbelievable now; I’m very
excited about playing in my first final. We’ve always
had a very good atmosphere and we’re all very good friends.
We have fun together and I think that’s very important,”
said a delighted Llagostera Vives afterwards. Zheng restored
some pride for China in the first of the dead rubbers but
Spain took the doubles for a final 4-1 scoreline.
In Moscow, Anna Chakvetadze, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera
Zvonareva were all victorious as the defending champion eased
into its fourth Fed Cup final in five years. A depleted USA
side fought hard throughout the tie but were unable to bridge
the gap to a team containing three of the world’s top
15.
Chakvetadze subdued the tenacious challenge of Vania King
in the first rubber, winning 64 75, before Kuznetsova simply
outclassed Ahsha Rolle 61 62 in the second. The in-form Zvonareva
stepped in for Kuznetsova for the third rubber and once the
Russian had found her rhythm on the red clay, having not played
on the surface for almost two years, it was just a matter
of time before she would clinch the tie, defeating King 46
63 62. “It’s a pleasure for me to be back in the
team. All the girls are really good, the coaches are great
and I’m just happy to be part of the best team in the
world,” said Zvonareva.
Russia has now won 13 of its last 14 Fed Cup ties and with
eight women currently ranked above Spanish No.1 Anabel Medina
Garrigues will be a huge favourite for September’s final,
but the Spanish have twice shown that they are a force to
be reckoned with, and they will have home advantage for the
first time this year. The venue and surface for the final
will be announced on 6 May.
In the World Group Play-offs, Italy and France retained their
places in the World Group while Argentina and Czech Republic
earned promotion. France easily defeated Japan in Tokyo, while
Francesca Schiavone was again heroine for Italy against Ukraine.
Gisela Dulko scored two victories for Argentina as it overcame
Germany while Czech Republic clinched an exciting doubles
rubber to edge Israel. Japan, Ukraine, Germany and Israel
will start 2009 in World Group II. Serbia earned a place in
World Group II for the first time with Ana Ivanovic and Jelena
Jankovic contributing to a 3-2 victory against Croatia, while
Switzerland fought back for a 3-2 win against Austria to return
to World Group II. The other two ties saw Belgium and Slovak
Republic comfortably hold on to their World Group II places
for next year’s competition against Colombia and Uzbekistan,
who return to Zonal Group I in 2009, along with Austria and
Croatia.
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